Protective shock absorbing device for goalposts

ABSTRACT

This device is particularly adapted for use with goalposts of the type utilized in active sports and serves to protect the players when they collide with the posts. The device includes an inflatable inner tube which is formed with an opening along one side so that it may be easily removed from and placed in position surrounding the goalpost. A protective outer shell surrounds the inflatable inner tube and is provided with an opening along one side having suitable fastening means to secure the shell in position around the inner tube. The amount of air pressure in the inner tube can be varied to thereby vary the cushioning characteristic when a player collides with the shock absorbing device.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,831,941 Pease 1 Aug. 27, 1974 IRO'I'ICC'IIVI". SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR GOALPOSTS Primary lxaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerTheatrice Brown [76] Invmtor' k z g sg gfig k ggggg Attorney, Agent, or FirmParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 338,091 [57] ABSTRACT This device is particularly adapted for use with goal- [52] us. Cl 273/55 R posts of the yp tili d in acti e sports and serves to [51] Int. Cl A6311 71/02 protect h play rs hen they collide with the posts. [58] Fi ld f S ar h 273/5 5 R, 55 A; 114/219; The device includes an inflatable inner tube which is 123/1 18 38 formed with an opening along one side so that it may be easily removed from and placed in position sur- [56] Referenc Cit d rounding the goalpost. A protective outer shell sur- UNITED STATES PATENTS rounds the inflatable inner tube and is provided with 2 466 954 4/1949 273/55 R an opening along one side having suitable fastening 1 l 1 H950 128/38 means to secure the shell in position around the inner 2'574 046 11 1951 Logan 1:13.... SIZE 7355 A tube- The amount of air Pressure in the inner tube can 2:694:395 1 H1964 Brown 128/118 x be varied to thereby y the Cushioning Characteristic 2,937,372 5 19 0 Gilman 1 27 5 A when a player collides with the shock absorbing de- 2,993,694 7/l96l Foley 273/55 R iC 3,104,875 9/1963 Doyle 273/55 R i s 3,153,413 l0/l964 Gottfried 128/38 ux 6 Clams, 5 Drawlng Flgul'es PROTECTIVE SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR GOALPOSTS The present invention relates generally to a protective shock absorbing device and more particularly to such a device for use with a goalpost or the like to protect the players when they collide with the goalpost.

The need for shock absorbing devices is particularly apparent in active sports such as football and basketball. However, there is also a need for such devices in other sports such as hockey, baseball, as well as in other playing areas where a fast moving player may collide with various types of posts, suports and the like, such as in school yards, playgrounds, sports arenas and the like.

A wide variety of different types of surface coverings have been suggested as a solution to the problem of players colliding with supports and posts. However, no one particular type of material has proven to be completely satisfactory for a wide range of uses because a wide range of individuals of different size and moving at different rates of speed may strike the protective shock absorbing device with widely variant levels of impact momentum. Also, the known types of shock absorbing devices have been expensive to purchase, and are difficult to remove and attach to the posts.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protective shock absorbing device for a goalpost or the like which provides a wide range of impact absorption, which is effective under a wide range of conditions of service, and which is easily removed from and placed in position surrounding the goalpost.

In accordance with the present invention, the shock absorbing device includes an inflatable inner tube formed with a longitudinal opening along one side to provide for easy removal from and placement on the post. A protective outer shell surrounds the inflatable inner tube and has a longitudinally extending opening with suitable fastener means extending along the opening for releasably connecting together the outer shell in position surrounding the inflatable inner tube. A suitable air valve is connected to the inner tube for effecting inflation and deflation of the inner tube when it is in position surrounding the post. Portions of the inner tube are secured to portions of the outer shell so that the inner tube and the outer shell maintain their relationship when the inner tube is inflated and when the inner tube is deflated. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a football goalpost embodying a protective shock absorbing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the shock absorbing device removed from the goalpost and with the inner tube and the outer shell being separated;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of the lower portion of the goalpost with the shock absorbing device surrounding same;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the shock absorbing device and being taken substantially along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

Although the shock absorbing device of the present invention is illustrated in use with a football goalpost 10 (FIG. 1) of the type having a single support, it is to be understood that the present shock absorbing device may be utilized with a football goalpost having a pair of supporting posts or the device may also be utilized with basketball goals and the like. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the device includes an inflatable inner tube, broadly indicated at 11, and a protective outer shell, broadly indicated at 12, surrounding the inflatable inner tube. The inner tube 11 is preferably formed of a suitable rubber or plastic and includes flexible inner and outer curved walls 13, 14. The inner wall 13 extends longitudinally of post 10 and is of a sufficient width to closely encircle the post, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The outer wall 14 is of the same length as the inner wall 13 and is of a sufficient width to be spaced from v the inner wall when the tube is inflated.

Upper and lower end walls 15, 16 are connected to and form closures for opposed ends of the inner wall 13 and the outer wall 14. A pair of side walls 17, 18 (FIG. 4) are connected to and extend radially from the inner wall 13 to the outer wall 14 and from the upper end wall 15 to the lower end wall 16 to define a longitudinal opening along one side of the inner tube 11 so that the inner tube may be easily removed from and placed in position surrounding the post 10.

Valve means, in the form of a valve stem 20 is positioned in the upper wall 15 of the inner tube for effecting inflation and deflation of the inner tube and for varying the amount of air pressure in the inner tube. The protective outer shell 12 surrounding the inflatable inner tube 11 has a longitudinally extending opening defined by adjacent side edges of the outer shell and a suitable closure means, such as a zipper indicated at 21,

extends along the side edges of the outer shell for re leasably connecting together the side edges when the shock absorbing device is positioned on the goalposts, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The outer shell 12 is preferably formed of a material having limited stretchability and sufficient bursting strength to stand fairly high pressures. The outer shell may be formed of various types of sheet material, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon or the like. The outer shell 12 includes protective upper and lower end walls 22, 23 which extend inwardly over portions of the upper and lower end walls 15, 16 of the inner tube 11. A radially extending slit is provided in each of the end walls 22, 23 and aligned with the longitudinally extending opening in the outer shell to permit placement on and removal from the posts. The zipper 21 preferably extends along the radially extending slit in the upper and lower end walls 22, 23.

It is preferred that means be provided for securin portions of the outer wall of the inner tube 11 to portions of the outer shell 12 so that the inner tube and the outer shell maintain their relative position when wrapped around and removed from the posts. The dotted rectangles 24 positioned along opposite sides of the zipper 21 in FIG. 3 represent the means for securing the inner tube 11 to the outer shell 12 and may include areas where the two parts are glued together. The securing means may take other forms, such as heat seal ing, snap fasteners or the like and may be positioned in other locations than those indicated in FIG. 3.

Since the inner tube 11 and the outer shell 12 are preferably secured together, they are not separable, as

is illustrated in FIG. 2, but remain together and will be removed from and placed on the post 10 as a single unit so that they maintain their relative positions when the inner tube is deflated and when the inner tube in inflated. To install the shock absorbing device on the goalposts, the inner tube 11 and the outer shell 12 are positioned to surround the goalpost l and the zipper fastener 21 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Air is then introduced into the inner tube through the valve 20 until sufficient pressure is obtained in the inner tube to provide the desired degree of resilience to the outer shell 12. The amount of air pressure in the inner tube will depend upon the types of forces to which the outer shell will be subjected. To remove the shock absorbing device, the air pressure in the inner tube 11 will be decreased and the zipper 21 opened so that the outer shell 12 andthe inner tube 11 may be easily removed from the post as one unit.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. Shock absorbing device for a post comprising a. an inflatable inner tube including flexible inner and outer walls, said inner wall extending longitudinally of said post and being of a sufficient width to closely encircle said post, said inner wall being of a sufficient length to extend between upper and lower ends of said shock absorbing device, said outer wall being of the same length as said inner wall and of a sufficient width to be equally spaced from said inner wall when said tube is inflated, a pair of end walls being positioned at the upper and lower ends of said shock absorbing device and being connected to and forming closures at opposed ends of said inner and outer walls, and a pair of side walls being connected to and extending radially from said inner wall to said outer wall, and said pair of side walls being connected to and extending from one of said end walls to the other whereby said inner tube may be removed from and placed in position to surround said post, said inner and outer walls and said pair of end walls defining a single cavity of uniform size surrounding said post,

b. a protective outer shell surrounding and covering said outer wall of said inflatable inner tube and having a longitudinally extending opening defined by adjacent side edges of said outer shell,

c. closure means extending along said side edges of said outer shell for releasably connecting together said side edges of said outer shell, and

d. valve means connected to said inner tube for effecting inflation and deflation of said inner tube when surrounding said post.

2. A shock absorbing device according to claim 1 including means securing portions of said outer wall adjacent the juncture with said side walls to portions of said outer shell adjacent said side edges whereby said inner tube and said shell maintain their relative positions when wrapped around and removed from said post.

3. A shock absorbing device according to claim 1 including protective end walls connected to each end of said protective outer shell and extending inwardly toward said inner wall of said inner tube, a radially extending slit in each of said protective end walls and being aligned with the longitudinally extending opening in said outer shell to permit placement on and removal from said post.

4. A shock absorbing device according to claim 3 wherein said valve means comprises a valve stem secured in one end wall of said end wall of said inner tube.

5. A shock absorbing device according to claim 3 wherein said closure means also extends along the radial slits in said protective end walls.

6. A shock absorbing device according to claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises'a zipper connected along said side edges of said outer shell. 

1. Shock absorbing device for a post comprising a. an inflatable inner tube including flexible inner and outer walls, said inner wall extending longitudinally of said post and being of a sufficient width to closely encircle said post, said inner wall being of a sufficient length to extend between upper and lower ends of said shock absorbing device, said outer wall being of the same length as said inner wall and of a sufficient width to be equally spaced from said inner wall when said tube is inflated, a pair of end walls being positioned at the upper and lower ends of said shock absorbing device and being connected to and forming closures at opposed ends of said inner and outer walls, and a pair of side walls being connected to and extending radially from said inner wall to said outer wall, and said pair of side walls being connected to and extending from one of said end walls to the other whereby said inner tube may be removed from and placed in position to surround said post, said inner and outer walls and said pair of end walls defining a single cavity of uniform size surrounding said post, b. a protective outer shell surrounding and covering said outer wall of said inflatable inner tube and having a longitudinally extending opening defined by adjacent side edges of said outer shell, c. closure means extending along said side edges of said outer shell for releasably connecting together said side edges of said outer shell, and d. valve means connected to said inner tube for effecting inflation and deflation of said inner tube when surrounding said post.
 2. A shock absorbing device according to claim 1 including means securing portions of said outer wall adjacent the juncture with said side walls to portions of said outer shell adjacent said side edges whereby said inner tube and said shell maintain their relative positions when wrapped around and removed from said post.
 3. A shock absorbing device according to claim 1 including protective end walls connected to each end of said protective outer shell and extending inwardly toward said inner wall of said inner tube, a radially extending slit in each of said protective end walls and being aligned with the longitudinally extending opening in said outer shell to permit placement on and removal from said post.
 4. A shock absorbing device according to claim 3 wherein said valve means comprises a valve stem secured in one end wall of said end wall of said inner tube.
 5. A shock absorbing device according to claim 3 wherein said closure means also extends along the radial slits in said protectivE end walls.
 6. A shock absorbing device according to claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises a zipper connected along said side edges of said outer shell. 